Down near the flat rocks at the poolthe secret leopard sniffs the day.He tilts his head by the striped bamboo,calling me: come and play.When I was seven, and nine, and twelve,I watched for his furious, bell-shaped head,but they always dragged me back from the track.'He is terrible,' they said.They stuffed my ears with cottonwool,they tied my hands and feet to the bed,but still the house shook silkenlyto his broad, electric tread.That was a long, long time ago.Now I am grown and free to runto the white rocks and the dim bambooand the velvet hood of the sun.He has been waiting by the yellow pool,padding the black leaves patiently,holding the flame in his narrow eyes,wild and slow as the sea.His handsome haunches are molten gold,his perilous paws flow red through the shade.You may mew forever from your pitiful bed —I am deep in the spiky glade.I will not tell of the spotted junglewith silver trees that eat the sun.I will not tell of the tawny trailswhere I and the lavish leopard run.

The Australian poet Rosemary Nissen-Wade writes in her poem titled, “Crossing the Great Water:”Words are such useless thingscompared with the touch of a hand,a smiling mouth, a soft eye…Useless things, words. But all we havewhen we live so distant.All that we have to crossthe great spaces of air and oceanlengthening between us.
But Nissen-Wade has taken those “useless words” and given them wings to cross the space between the poet and the reader. In an extensive collection of poetry written over a span of more than 30 years, we are witness to the poet’s literary growth. Her topics are large and timeless, yet Nissen-Wade brings them home to the individual reader in the everyday, unadorned words we all know, and with words that reach to the hidden heart, where large things live: love, death, faith, hope — and just in time, without waste, aimed true. In “Supreme Compliment,” she writes: I miss one lover. Easy man, unfurlingas a fronded fern to sip the sunleisurelyuncontrived.Revealed:The fragile core firming,stretching alive. Sensitivein touch and movement,playfully intent.He made love like a woman.The whole person.
In admirable economy of words, Nissen-Wade sums up the wish of women everywhere, the struggle for what satisfies and lasts, the largesse of love for person from person, without a hint of unnecessary drama, no soapbox in sight, no garish decoration, because none is needed. This is the lover she misses, this one, and none of the others. In that, saying it all.
Other near perfect poems are “Incarnation” (“What ancient wind now sucks and cries/at our stones and walled places?”), “Autumn” (“lost faces/drifting on memory”), and again the stunning economy of words expressing something nearly too big for words in “The Same Valleys” (“I’m with you and alone, it’s quiet, my outline fills”). Nissen-Wade’s talent is in using the bare bones of big ideas and letting the reader fill in their own outlines with the echo of their own experiences. She says, simply, what we suddenly recognize we have been trying and trying to say all along, now only gasp in recognition: yes! That’s it… exactly.
An occasional miss, as in “Writing the Prison” or a section called “From Small Poems of April, 1991” that could be eliminated entirely without lessening the value of the whole, doesn’t keep this collection from being an overall poetic goldmine. Even in that obligatory poem every poet seems to eventually write in some version about writing itself, Nissen-Wade’s “Always the Writing” is fresh and personal. The collection concludes with a fitting series of goodbye poems, written about the poet’s mother and a friend named Karen, observing and capturing the process of human disintegration without melodrama or pity. “…Each word brings me/closer to the edge of being singular,/discovering my own pains and rewards…”
It takes courage to take on the turning points of life, the rites of passage, but what else truly matters? Nissen-Wade has not only the courage, but the skill and talent to do so successfully.

26.3.07

“For those who believe in fairies .... and those who don’t.”
Fairies... do I believe in them? I had to wonder as I read this slim book by Andrew E. Wade, an Australian author. I wasn’t sure into which category I land, believer or non. Surely I believed as a child? And I remember well how my own children believed when they were small, peeking into bushes, checking behind tree leaves, listening to the rustling in the wind. Perhaps I fall into the group of those who want to believe...
Whatever your outlook on fairies, anyone can enjoy the story of Jorell. She is a tiny fairy in Australian woods who guards the forest, but also seems to keep a kind eye out for the occasional good human who wanders into her woods. Eight-year-old Tim is one of those humans. Jorell is taken by surprise when the boy can, in fact, see her, as few humans can. Certainly not as they grow older, inhibited by their own disbelief, their own “unreadiness” to open their eyes and see. But once the two have established that they can indeed interact, and they become comfortable with “mind-talking,” or telepathy, as the preferred mode of communication, it turns out they can help each other in a collaboration between species.
Little Tim’s father, as it turns out, works at the nearby sawmill, and the story of Jorell takes on an environmental message. It is not a simple problem with a simple solution. The loggers are sawing down an old-growth forest. But to save the forest would mean putting many out of work. Add to that Tim’s problem with convincing his father, a very rational and logical man who doesn’t believe in such as fairies, and the conflict of the story is set up.
It is no easier for fairies to believe in good humans. Jorell must convince her own kind to trust them to help in saving the forest:“...why do you trust him? He has no understanding of us. He and his [human] kind are upsetting the balance of nature - cutting and burning trees, polluting the air, destroying the animals, turning the land into desert, blasting great wounds into the hills and mountains, and forcing more and more of us to withdraw to the forests. What makes this manchild different?“All that you have said is true, Kraw. I do not excuse what has and is still being done. But humanity is not evil. Most humans are peaceful, loving and kind. They want to live in friendship. It is easy to see the bad deeds, less easy to see the good ones. If we give up, not trusting in the power of love, we are lost...”
A strong message, and true. But will it be enough? And in time? Tim must convince his cynic father of the life in the forest, but he must also come to understand that jobs without a healthy environment are meaningless. He must also convince his young classmates at school, and his teacher, to assist in this effort. Fairy and manchild are fully dependent on each other to solve a shared problem.
This is a charming tale with an important message, suitable for young children, but enjoyable for an adult who perhaps enjoys reading to children. The language is pretty bare bone, the dialogue a tad stilted and unadorned with the detail that might truly bring the scene to life, nevertheless, the merits outweigh these shortcomings.
To learn more about the author and his own experiences with a fairy named Jorell, inspiration for this tale, visit Andrew and his wife Rosemary's blog, The Truth About Fairies.

25.3.07

Rosemary Nissen-Wade is both original and a powerful voice—a voice of humanity in all its suffering and joy.…These are poems of great immediacy and power—but the one word that has been, most accurately, used to describe their underlying unity is love.– Karl Orend, former Manager of Shakespeare & Company, Paris.

These are poems that look with a steady and perceptive eye on poetry’s grand themes – love, death, the natural world – but can spare a sideways glance for things small and things fantastic – the warmth of a cat curled on the bed, unicorns in the laundry.— Jennifer Strauss, poet, critic and Honorary Senior Research Fellow at Monash University, Melbourne.

Rosemary, I cannot tell you what a relief it is to read your poetry. It's actually beautifully written! You have no idea how many REALLY BAD books I have been given to read. So when I find one that's a joy I nearly lose my mind with delight! THANK YOU for sending this to me! It truly is a lovely book!– Vila SpiderHawk, author

Don't minimise your ability to reach, to reach out. People will need poetry. Healing works on a level in which there is something wrong. Poetry gets to the core, the heart. That is the pertinence of poetry now. It is essential for people to have access to poetry as a means for activation of the heart.– Raeline Brady, Reiki/SKHM Master, Vibrational Essence Practitioner

24.3.07

Your book makes me believe in fairies. It is my favourite book that I've got and hope other people like it too. Also your book makes me feel happy, light as a feather and loving of my sister and my mum and dad. It makes my dad feel happy in heart. The book to my mum makes her feel she can do anything. The book makes my sister feel pretty. I would like you to write more of this book. I will pass it on to my children. Your book makes me think fairies are part of my family. Your book makes me feel like I can fly and I hope it makes other people feel they can do the same. Coen Jennings-McKay 8yrs (2007)

I looked forward to Daddy reading it to us every night. I liked all of the story.Emilia McDonald 5 years

Most exciting story I’ve read in ages. Very lively.Joe Jackson 8 years

Jorell is a wonderful story of a young boy called Tim who sees a fairy in the forest and tells his parents. His Dad gets angry and says he’s talking nonsense. It was very beautiful in a way that made you think twice about the possibilities in life. I love the descriptions as I could get a very clear picture in my head in every scene and of every fairy.Cassandra King 12 years

ADULTS

I absolutely love your book. The last chapter was wonderful. It brought tears to my eyes as I read it. I can't begin to tell you how wonderful your story is. I don't think you will have any trouble selling this. It is such an important message to share with all.Patricia Bennett, Writer

Thank you so much for introducing me to Jorell......and so vividly transporting me into the realm of nature spirits with ease. I devoured the book in a couple of hours giggling, crying and belly laughing all out loud. My inner child is in ecstasy! Every school and library in the world should have this wonderful book in stock.Thank you,Blessings to you and this delightful storyRaeline Brady, Vibrational Essence Practitioner

Jorell is a feel good "Faery Tale" told from the perspective of a young boy named Tim. In it he makes believers out of us all. The story gets us in touch with the earth and the magic of life as we may or may not know it. It transports us into a time of our own childhood when we believed in a lot of things we may not believe in as an adult. Faeries were much more real to us when we were children. So it is good to touch base with the reality and innocence of that child we all once were through the eyes of Tim and his Faery friends. The story has a great environmental message too which should be read to or by all children, adults and politicians. After all it is the responsibility of adults to teach children the value of saving the environment. This book is a great tool for that. And as we know, it is the children who will change our world for the better in the future...along with the faeries of course. I don't know about the politicians!Michelle Ball, Entrepreneur

I loved the book, I read it in one sitting and couldn't wait for my grand-daughters to read it. Reading Jorell took me on a magical journey! It transported me into the mind and body of a small boy who has a belief in the enchantment of a world that few adults remember or experience. I loved the tapestry woven into the story of not just magic but also protecting our environment. The book was wonderful and I would highly recommend it.Diane McCann, "Beyond the Ordinary"

I just returned from a 3 weeks trip and I took your manuscript with me to read on the plane. I LOVED it. The story is so sweet and thought provoking at the same time. I think my son will love it. Liz Thompson, Co-Founder, Healthy Wealthy nWise.com

The story educated me in the presence of devas and their relationship with Nature and people. Andrew’s description of the naturefolk was authentic, believable and detailed. It is a brave plea for the triumph of the Heart over the sad domination of Mind, in our personal lives and the world.Penelope Williams, Life Coach

The late Eileen Caddy, co-founder of the Findhorn Community, the inspiration for the story of Jorell, was the first person to see the manuscript. She wrote:

This is just to let you know that I received the manuscript of your delightful fairy story. I read it and was delighted with it. It is charming with a real message in it. I love children’s stories especially when they have a message to them as yours has.with love and many blessings Eileen.